I just had to share the recovery of my Cal and the awesome new pot I obtained for it...
Here is pic of the Cal Orange...


It was almost dead in Feb.. I almost trashed it cause I thought it was dead... but I changed my mind and gave it one last chance at life.. I stuck it in a pot and put it with the rest of my citrus trees and to my amazement it started to bud out...
This week end I went over to my parents to pick up some spare pots from them as I seem to be running out of pots.. And I noticed this GREAT pot.. I asked my dad he said I could have it as he picked it up at a garage sale for only $1!!! I noticed when I got it home it says made in Roma Italy on the inside of the pot!!!

It makes the tree lots heavier.. but I don't mind... "Twiggy" is worth it!!!

Gina *BabyBlue*

Past week to week and half the tree went through a rather rapid decline.. No leaf discoloration just all curled and dried out/ wilted looking.. The leaves are still as green as they were in this pic.. When I transplanted in to this pot the roots were growing Like crazy.. this was the next size up pot.. The tree never left the house.. there was new growth just a week ago.. In fact the new growth is still on the tree just curled like the rest of the leaves.. I didn't see any bug in the soil when I changed soil and pots.. There is one single long root with about dozen or so fine hair roots that look healthy.. there were about a dozen long roots each covered with fine hair roots.. there were two or three roots that looked rotted that I cut out.. The rest of the roots are just gone!!! When I first noticed the curling leaves I thought maybe due to the cooler temps and the clay pot had the coolest temps but even though the temps got down to upper 50s I don't think that would cause that much damage?? strange that the clay pot has about 10* lower temp than plastic pots... all the pots were same area..
If it had been root rot the leaves would have turned yellow and dropped right?? It still has every leaf that it had weeks ago.. not one leaf turned yellow or dropped.. I have not used any chemicals on or near it..

I have... repotted it.. removed any roots that looked questionable and put it in pot more to the size of it's new root system or lack of, with fresh soil... I gave it a bit of STEM.. NO CLOROX!!!!!!

I could get pic of it if that would help... Any other advice would be great..
I had taken a clipping from it and the clipping is rooted and very healthy.. so If it doesn't make it I won't be too upset.. but.. Twiggy has been through sooooo much already.. every thing is still green.. no browning on the branches or any thing..

Thanks!!!

Gina *BabyBlue*

i just dont like citrus in clay as a general rule.

ive got 2 that are doing OK, but the Thai lime is big for the pot. my pummelo nearly died (dries out much faster than plastic) when it went to live outside in clay....


good luck hon, hope you are able to save it! its cute

Here is pic of the poor thing..



You can see it still has all of it's leaves and they are still green.. though not as nice dark green as they were..

Hopefully the root is enough to carry it through.. though.. It did have LESS roots (NO fine hair roots) before..

Thanks for your input Garnet.. I changed it to a small plastic pot.. maybe it will recover...

Gina *BabyBlue*

Certainly looks like root damage, probably from transplanting. Gina, I have never seen a tree in this condition recover. You might put a plastic bag over the tree to raise the humidity which will help the leaves from losing moisture. However, prayer is needed for this tree. - Millet

Thanks..

I guess IF it pulls through this time I'll have to call it a Cat orange tree and it's working on 9 lives..

Here is photos taken of this tree since Dec last yr..

Dec. 20, 05


March 6, 06 after having a bad run in with some bleach water in Mid January.. most of the canopy died and leaves dropped like flies..


Was thrown in recycle dirt pile (tub of used dirt that goes out behind garage) about a month later.. Month after that I pulled it from the recycle dirt pile put it in a pot and stuck it in shaded spot in garden outside.. said if it lived it lived if it didn't.. wouldn't be too far of trip to behind the garage.. Not one leaf was on it for over 3 months!!!

June 2, 06


June 12, 06 look leaves!!!


June 19, 06 more leaves!!!


and scroll back up to see how it recovered by Sept 17, 06...

Well.. another Lesson learned!!!!
When you repot citrus be more careful of roots.. and When you put citrus in clay pot just because soil feels dry does not mean it is dry at the core..

I am shocked at how quick it declined..and no yellowing leaves..
I am glad it has more root than it did the last time it "died"..
Yes all prayers for "twiggy" welcome!!!
Hope I don't have to threat the trash pile again!!!
I will try putting it in a 2 Gal zipper bag to conserve leaf moisture.. if there is any moisture left in the leaves..

I know I could replace it lots quicker than I can "recover" it.. But after all it has been through.. I'm growing very attached to it.. Silly little thing!!

Thanks for input and interest!!!

Gina *BabyBlue*

That tree does not want to die! Glad you are making the effort, I would too! Prayers are being said, hope "Twiggy" makes it!

Joan, if anyone can save this tree it is probably Gina. - Millet

Thanks Joan!!

Millet thanks for the compliment..

Gina *BabyBlue*

I am sad to say Twiggy is no more...
I checked the roots today as only a small amount of green was left on the trunk.. the roots were gone.. no hope with out roots..
Thanks for all the well wishes..
Twiggy Jr is still thriving very well though only a couple inches tall...
I will post pics...

Gina *BabyBlue*

I lost my Thai Lime that was in a clay pot when we went to the Citrus Expo. darn thing.


so yeah. kinda stinks, but im really out of room for plants. going to keep everyone in plasic pots from here on out!

Sorry about "Twiggy" Gina. I lost a blood orange 2 winters ago. It had baby fruits on... green leaves. It just started dropping fruits & leaves. Leaves didn't turn yellow either. It was root rot! I learned not to water so much in winter.
I'm now having some leaves falling & some turning yellow (the finicky meyer) on a few trees. Hope they hang in there 'till spring!